Court sense; Basketball products and equipment designed to provide an edge.

Basketball season is fast approaching for high school and collegiate programs.

That being said, it's never too early to think about upgrading your facilities with a backboard or portable backstop, add an invaluable training aid, or purchase some new uniforms and/or footwear.

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With so many companies and varieties from which to choose, we thought we'd help simplify the process by touting several manufacturers which are providing products and equipment that may not guarantee one more victory, but can ensure improved performance, comfort, and satisfaction.

UNIFORMS

Russell Athletic has always been a leader in team uniforms and athletics apparel. With over 100 years of heritage, Russell is an authentic athletic brand that has proven credibility with winning teams on the courts and fields of play.

"Our products are designed to deliver performance, innovation, and quality," said John Sewell, Basketball Merchandise Senior Manager for Russell Athletic. "There isn't another competitor out there that can tour our heritage."

While its heritage is certainly an advantage, Russell is also forward thinking with its innovation.

This is the third year Russell has offered its VT fabric in the marketplace. The VT fabric was developed with the intention to combine air flow management and moisture management fabrics to maximize stretch, mobility, and breathability.

Worth noting is that VT provides a mesh structure that allows the uniforms to feel like traditional mesh while meeting the performance needs of today's athletes, according to the company. The mesh provides better structure on the uniform for decoration and holding its shape. The VT has less surface area and dries quicker. Air flow dissipates the sweat and won't cling.

"Each year our uniforms evolve further to meet the ever changing needs of athletes," said Sewell.

One key feature to the VT fabric is the Performance Enhanced Styling.

The recently designed Mid-Fit silhouette combined with the mix of performance fabrics was developed to meet the needs of athletes and provide the next level of comfort.

Russell's process for engineering quality uniforms consists of gathering information from athletes, coaches, equipment managers, sporting good dealers, in addition to its own product development team.

"We work with our top teams as testing and development institutions," Sewell said. "Prototypes are developed and tested on top tier athletes before they are available in the marketplace. Development spans from short windows to extensive periods of time based on the complexity and sophistication of the fabric and styling.

"However, due to the ever changing needs of athletes we pride ourselves on being cutting edge."

The Racer Back cut for women's basketball is a powerful example of Russell answering the needs of athletes several years ago. Russell partnered with the Georgia Tech women's basketball program to help drive what Sewell called, "the most innovative change in women's basketball styling since the switch to sleeveless tops."

"The Racer back was our answer for the female athlete's desire for 'performance enhanced' styling and comfort and as a result became one of the most successful uniform launches in Russell's history," he said.

Russell is adding eight new special-order styles and three stock styles geared to the athlete's performance needs to complement styles already in place. One of those endeavors includes the "Pink Zone" initiative that Russell spearheaded this past year for many of the women's basketball teams it outfits.

"We developed pink uniforms for teams to join us in support of Breast Cancer month in February," said Sewell. "Various high school and collegiate teams participated and we were able to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Kay Yow Foundation. Moving forward we will carry a full range of Pink Uniforms in our in-stock and special order lines."

Uniforms Express, a new player in the market, is also driving innovation from its Chula Vista, CA, headquarters.

Uniforms Express has three new game uniform designs that feature the body fit style. The company's proprietary Hydra Tech material used in this new style is also available in its newly re-designed reversible practice set.

"We are very excited about our new body fit line here at Uniforms Express, which features our Hydra Tech materials and has a more athletic fit for the athletes wearing them," said David Wahlstrom, Marketing Manager for Uniforms Express. "Hydra Tech is a moisture wicking material that rapidly absorbs sweat and evaporates it, keeping the player and uniform dryer throughout the game or practice. Additionally, it is a very light material, only 4.0 ounces per square foot, which means more comfort and less weight for the athlete to carry around on the court."

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The basketball shorts are still loose and player friendly, featuring up to a 12" inseam. The jersey top is designed for a tighter fit, more closely resembling a compression performance shirt. Although the jersey is not skin tight like compression gear, it is much closer to the body than the traditional basketball cut, giving today's players the desired fit and feel of the new performance style uniforms.

According to Wahlstrom, while Uniforms Express tries to stay on top of current designs and technology, what really differentiates the company from the competition are its prices, service, and delivery.

"Our goal is to be the low price leader for the highest quality uniforms available on the market while providing coaches the best customer service and ordering experience that they have ever had in their coaching careers," he said. "Our money back on-time delivery guarantee also helps to elevate us above our competition, as we can produce custom uniforms in as little as two weeks."

From an R & D standpoint, when Uniforms Express designs a new uniform line it does so by keeping its eye on the emerging trends in each market that it produces uniforms for, especially basketball, baseball, and football.

Furthermore, according to Wahlstrom, nearly all of Uniforms Express' employees at its corporate headquarters played a sport at the collegiate level, if not higher, and most are now coaches in the community.

"We encourage all of them to bring new ideas to the table because they see and hear what today's athletes need and want," Wahlstrom said. "They all are intricate in the development of our new lines and take pride in seeing the finished product out on the field or court."

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FOOTWEAR

New Balance has always taken pride in knowing that it provides performance enhancing technologies for athletic consumers in various color ways, sizes, and widths. And its two new basketball offerings are no different.

Introduced in August, the BB889 and BB905 are each available in five color ways and in an array of narrow, medium, and wide widths and sizes. The former, weighing 15 ounces, features ABZORB Ex Heal Technology, ABZORB forefoot cushioning, a synthetic upper, and a herringbone outsole. The latter, at 17 oz., features NB Zip technology, ABZORB forefoot cushioning, LockDown Liner (snug, form fitting mid-foot feel), Lightning Dry lining (moisture management liner), a Mid-foot Support Strap, and a herringbone outsole.

The channel of distribution is Team Dealers.

"We made aesthetic changes to both uppers on the BB889 and BB905," said Jenica Bridges, Assistant Product Manager-Team Sports, New Balance. "We understand that performance is a key contributor to the success of a basketball shoe, however, aesthetics play a role as well. If your target consumer is getting younger than you have to create new styles that are visually appealing to your demographic."

Bridges added: "We are going to continue the process of creating both evolutionary and revolutionary designs. New Balance always focuses on the performance element of footwear. We understand that athletes are a various range of sizes and widths. We stand out from our competitors because we have a shoe for athletes who are at different ends of the spectrum, an athlete who is a narrow width to an athlete who is an extra wide width. New Balance Team Sports will provide basketball players with the comfort in order to perform at a high level."

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New Balance has a product team that consists of marketing, design, and development personnel. As a product marketer/manager, Bridges, for one, spends a great amount of time in the market analyzing trends, shopping prototypes, and receive feedback from athletes as to what elements they would like to see in a New Balance basketball style.

"There is no better way to receive feedback than being in the market attending tournaments and camps and talking to athletes," she said.

The company's focus is the U10 to U14 age group because the earlier it exposes them to the product the better. According to Bridges, these athletes have been very receptive to this process.

"They feel involved and are willing to provide consistent and candid feedback," Bridges said. "As a result, we establish a relationship with this consumer and they are more open to trying our brand. I discuss the product feedback with our team and we work on a plan together to execute my findings."

New Balances' 2009 styles will use the same tech with new uppers. The 2010 basketball styles will probably have an updated unit (tech) and upper.

BACKBOARDS/PORTABLE BACKSTOPS

Schelde North America's new Spring Assisted Mechanism (SAM) portable backstop is the latest and greatest from the industry leader.

Springs in the base allow the partially counterbalanced backstop to be raised or lowered in seconds, without the need for electricity or hydraulics. Best of all, the maintenance-free design virtually never fails, according to the company, with a life expectancy of 40+ years.

"This Schelde-invented system is so good it has been adapted or copied by virtually every manufacturer," said Jim Peterson, President, Schelde North America.

The Pro Action 180 rim breaks away in every direction, not just forward, while a Detente mechanism keeps rim locked in place until at least 180 lbs. of force is applied.

"Since the rim breaks away in the direction of the dunk, it is safer for the player," Peterson added. "The rim doesn't 'flex' when the ball hits it, fostering more consistent rebound characteristics."

The backboard glass is entirely cut out where the rim mounts to the main beam behind the backboard. That means no amount of stress on the rim affects the glass at all, preventing glass breakage from monster dunks.

A Dynamic Sub Frame comes down and lifts the backstop off the front wheels automatically when the backstop is raised to the game position. This makes for fast set-up and, since it is pre-adjusted, puts the rim right at 10 feet, The sub frame has a thick rubber bottom to protect the floor and dampen the effect of a dunk to shorten the time the rim vibrates and/or sways after the dunk.

The Quick Set height adjustment, using only a wrench, allows the rim height to be fine-tuned with the goal already set up. For instance, if a rim is not precisely at 10 feet, adjustment can be made so quickly and easily there is no delay to the start of the game

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"By moving the manufacturing from Europe to our plant in the USA, the first step was to move from metric measurements to standard US measurements," Peterson explained. "In doing so, we increased the strength and durability of the frame and of the bearings--now using a lifetime maintenance-free type--and made the optional Dead Lock a standard feature at no cost.

"Additionally, both the movement to raise and lower the backstop were changed to incorporate spring-loaded positive locking pins, to avoid the chance of human error when setting up the goal. Previously optional steel fork lift tubes were made standard at no cost. The resulting product is now so durable we were able to increase the limited warranty protection to 10 years on the rim; 10 years on the backboard padding; 20 years on the frame; and lifetime on the backboard.

According to Peterson, the new SAM now carries the most comprehensive warranty package in the business.

Peterson also claims that Schelde's SAM is the only product on the market that can offer the "glass free" rim mounting backboard feature, as it is patented (Patent Number 6,053,826). The Dynamic Sub Frame is so effective, that the company's competition requested that Schelde license it for their use. But it, too, is protected by a patent (Number 5,628,508).

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Said Peterson: "Other design features include a low and narrow profile for the benefit of the fans in the end zone, to interfere as little as possible with their view of the action in the paint; the fastest and easiest set-up in the industry; and, importantly, customer satisfaction that is so high that word-of-mouth advertising has become our best marketing tool!"

Jaypro's new Rectangular Unbreakable Glass Backboard is designed to eliminate any impact load on the glass itself. Instead it is redirected to the lower reinforced steel frame. The backboard can be used in center mount as well as four corner mount applications making the purchase decision less complicated.

Additionally, it is great for heavy use in all environments.

"The new board replaces two different boards, making purchasing less complicated," said Bill Wild, Jaypro's VP of Sales & Marketing. "This board is being installed on all Jaypro installations around the country as the standard board. Only one other company offers a board like ours and it is sold at a premium. Jaypro is raising the standard with this new board at a reasonable price."

Jaypro's innovation stems from a combination of R&D and users. Wild offered that the company also receives invaluable feedback from new installations both from the contractors involved and the end user.

As for Jaypro's future backboard offerings? "The next great advance will be a lightweight, but stronger ceiling mounted backstop," said Wild.

TRAINING AIDS 

There are basketball training aids and there are training aids from Shoot-A-Way, the industry leader.

Already renowned for its original, best-selling Shoot-A-Way shooting aid and the highly acclaimed Gun 6000 "catch and shoot" machine, the company's Dominator is a complete post station that provides the versatility necessary for basketball players to dominate in the paint.

The Dominator can be used by all athletes at all positions on the court to develop strength, footwork, balance, vertical jump, timing, and stamina, according to the company. More importantly, the Dominator gives players the opportunity to continuously improve skills that are specific and applicable to the game of basketball.

The swinging pads, with adjustable resistance, teach players to explode through contact and finish at the hoop, while the "shotblocker" pads act as a defender and aid in the development of a high release and touch around the basket. The rebounding part of the machine has an adjustable height that ranges from 7'0" to 11'0" and forces athletes to rip the ball to gain possession through contact.

Overall, the Dominator provides a wide range of features and benefits that can add to the progression of any player.

"As the Dominator was being derived from the Rebounder, Shoot-A-Way wanted to implement the changes and ideas of coaches throughout the country," said Troy Geiser, Director of Basketball, Shoot-A-Way. "Obviously, coaches believe that rebounding is important, but they also want to teach players to finish with contact and shoot with a hand in their face. The swiveling pads on the machine are adjustable and create the consistent contact coaches want without the high risk of injury."

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Geiser says the "shotblocker" pads were added to simulate contested angles and vision for finishes around the basket and on the perimeter. These pads can also be used to present obstacles for perimeter players off the dribble. This implementation provides the pressure equivocal to game like conditions for players to compete against on a daily basis.

"Shoot-A-Way also understands the importance of efficiency for coaches during practice and workouts," Geiser said. "So, an over-sized hopper was added to ensure no time is wasted putting basketballs back into the machine. And for coaches, the Dominator breaks down for compact storage that rolls through any standard door and comes with a free three-year warranty."

As coaches continue to look for the competitive advantage, the Dominator can be a program-changer at all levels. With the advancement of strength and conditioning programs around the country, athletes are becoming bigger and stronger and the physical aspect of basketball continues to grow.

Said Geiser: "The Dominator provides the specificity necessary to build basketball skills and the strength essential for success. Since its introduction in March of 2008, the Dominator joins a series of basketball resources that have been around since 1982. With over 9,200 Guns and 10,300 Shoot-A-Ways currently being utilized, Shoot-A-Way continues to be a staple in the basketball industry."